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Obama Banned From RNC in Tampa
Oh. That’s not what Tampa meant?
Newser
Political puppets are a time-honored tradition, and protesters gearing up for the Republican National Convention are dutifully creating some. There’s just one problem: The city of Tampa has effectively banned puppets inside the event area. Well, technically, they’ve banned sticks, strings, and masks, the Tampa Bay Times reports, but police aren’t shy about saying their goal is to suppress puppets. “Their heads have been used to hide weapons,” explains a police spokesperson, and, er, “other matter, fecal matter.”
One Tampa puppeteer says protesters will simply steer clear of the event zone. But the ban is still controversial. “That’s a suppression of civil liberties,” protests one Philadelphia puppeteer. Philadelphia was the site of an infamous puppet suppression incident ahead of the 2000 RNC. Police raided a barn where protesters were making puppets and arrested 75 people, charging them with conspiracy to obstruct the law. The charges were eventually dropped—after the puppets had been destroyed.
Hybrid Lemon
July 31st, 2012
There’s a puppet in the White House whose head is hiding fecal matter.
A.Men
July 31st, 2012
President-In-Name-Only is not a nice guy — but a hateful, spiteful thug from Chicago.
Tracy
July 31st, 2012
BURKAS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME ALLOWED / NO I.D. AT BORDER
Selective freedom of speech suppression and totalitarianism is what we’re seeing. Rape, excrement, mayhem, drugs, and deviants of all kinds, many wearing Guy Fawkes masks at OWS events is okay.
NObama2012!
CrustyB
July 31st, 2012
My political beliefs are always swayed by the sight of giant puppets.
the aardvark
July 31st, 2012
Does that include the Muppets? Ah darn, no Kermit the Frog doing political commentary at the RNC in Tampa. Or Cookie Monster on Monsterpiece Theater. Just the regular media sock puppets on display with their usual drivel praising all things Obama and deriding Romney for being too white and boring. It’s all racist, I tell ya.
John F.
July 31st, 2012
I bet they didn’t intend for their puppet to look like George Soros.
the aardvark
July 31st, 2012
So what exactly do you call it when you discriminate against puppets? Puppetism, does that make you a puppettist if you don’t like puppets. I don’t know. Good grief, now we’ll have another class of victims to have to worry about. I think any word that ends in ism should be banned. Does that make me an ism,ist?
Plain Jane
July 31st, 2012
How about the RNC doing Obummer, Hillary, and Muzzie women, etc. pinatas. That would be culturally acceptable in more ways than one.
Uncle Dirt
July 31st, 2012
“Their heads have been used to hide weapons,” explains a police spokesperson, and, er, “other matter, fecal matter.” Is it a stretch to say that this makes Obama a $hithead?
Czar of Defenestration
July 31st, 2012
If I go down there to take a gander, I might just have to defend myself against an attack with a can of wasp spray…the kind with a 15-foot stream.